CSU, Chico Honored by US News & World Report Annual Best College Rankings

With the new academic year in full swing, California State University, Chico has once again been recognized among the top institutions in the West region and the nation.

US News & World Report released its annual Best College Rankings for 2020, placing CSU, Chico at No. 27 on the Best Regional Universities list and at No. 9 on Top Public Schools list, also a regional ranking.

As the University continues to be recognized as a strong choice for higher education, Director of Admissions Kim Guanzon points to the myriad services CSU, Chico offers to educate and prepare its students, including cutting-edge research facilities and collaborative faculty, opportunities for civic and global engagement, and an affordable education that primes students for the workforce.

“The volume of accolades merely reinforces what the Chico State faculty and staff already know—that we are an outstanding institution that offers an affordable world-class education,” she said. “We not only provide an exceptional college experience for our students but also prepare them for a future of gainful employment.”

In the listing of Top Public Schools in the West region, seven CSU institutions make up the leading 10—top-ranked Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; Cal Poly Pomona at No. 2; Cal State Fullerton at No. 3; Cal State Long Beach at No. 5; San José State at No. 7; and CSU, Monterey Bay at No. 8.

CSU, Chico appeared on four additional US News & World Report Best Colleges lists, highlighting its regional excellence—Best Undergraduate Teaching Programs (tie at No. 18); Best Value Schools (No. 45); Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie for No. 36); and the national list for Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (tie at No. 97).

To compile its rankings, US News & World Report factored graduation and retention rates, graduate rate performance, social mobility, faculty resources, expert opinion, student academic excellence and alumni giving among its methodology.

CSU, Chico continues to be recognized for its excellence, and was included on Money magazine’s “2019–20 Best Colleges in America” list earlier this month. Additionally, the University has received honors from national publications like Money magazine, Forbes magazine, and US News & World Report. In the last year alone, the University has been recognized for its distinction in upward mobility following graduation, regional excellence, and sustainable practices, as well as its individual programs, such as the College of Business and its MBA program, its School of Nursing and Study Abroad.